Two East Side businesses damaged by fire

A Columbus fire investigator was trying to determine the cause of a blaze that started Monday night and gutted two businesses on the East Side.

Columbus firefighters were called to the 3400 block of East Main Street at 11:50 p.m. Monday by a report that a building was in flames.

Fire crews went into a defensive operation as they tried to contain the fire from the outside, Columbus Division of Fire spokeswoman Rebecca Diehm said Tuesday morning.

The blaze was contained by 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, Diehm said. No injuries were reported.

The building houses R&M Carry Out and Z&R Automotive Detailing.

Investigators were still assessing the extent of the damage Tuesday morning, but both businesses were severely damaged.

Much of the inside of the building was filled with the charred remains of burned cars and convenience store shelves, windows were shattered and debris was strewn throughout the parking lot.

A single fire engine sat in the parking lot early Tuesday. Diehm said one company remained on scene to keep the blaze from flaring up again.

East Main Street was closed in front of the building until 6:30 a.m..

Wirthman Realty Co. owns the building, which has a value of $328,500, according to the Franklin County auditor’s office.

Phone and email messages left with Wirthman were not returned Tuesday.